Real Estate Investing in Elberon, Iowa (52225)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Tama County • Population: 415 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52225 (Elberon, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 21.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Elberon, IA (52225)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $233,973
Avg Monthly Rent $945
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,630
% Renters 0.0%

Market Analysis: 52225 Elberon

The 52225 ZIP covers a section of Elberon that demands careful diligence. Prices near $234K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $234K asset, 52225 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Elberon have seen price recovery that 52225 has not matched. Tama County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 52225 ZIP's population of 415 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. impressive returns are possible in 52225, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Elberon:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $945/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
41 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.2%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Cedar Rapids, IA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$250K$220K$191K$161K$131K$102KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52225 Compare?

Metric 52225 Elberon Cedar Rapids, IA Iowa
Home Value $233,973 $233,973 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 8.2% 8.2% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $945 $945 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52225? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52225 (Elberon, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cedar Rapids, IA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
1/2
41 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $233,973
Monthly Rent $945
Price-to-Rent 20.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
21.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52225

Population: 415

💰 Median Household Income
$59,630
This area
$59,630
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.3%
This area
0.3%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
64.3 years
This area
64.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.1%
Asian 1.7%
Other/Mixed 0.2%
👶 Under 18
10.6%
This area
10.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
45.3%
This area
45.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there empty rentals in Elberon, IA?

Vacancy in Elberon, IA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $945/mo.

How much do tenants pay in Elberon, IA?

Rent in Elberon, IA is around $945/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $234K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the renter demographic in Elberon, IA?

Tenant quality in Elberon, IA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $945/mo.

How do home values compare in Elberon, IA?

In Elberon, IA the median home value sits at $234K. Against the broader IA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How should investors approach Elberon, IA?

Most investors in Elberon, IA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 52225 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 52225 ranks in Cedar Rapids, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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